Would you miss carbs or sugar more if you cut them both out?

[TrainwreckAdvice]

Question asks it really?

Carbs

Sugar

Both

Neither

Never gonna find out

[redeyemindtricks]

I do fitness shows, because I'm an insane freak.

Lemme tell y'all something:
Yes, low-carb is difficult -- for the first 2-3 weeks, the first time you try it. Then it's NEVER that hard, ever again.
That's the "acclimation" period, during which yr body basically "learns" to run on alternative fuels. The body doesn't have to re-learn every time, so, it's never that hard again.

__

Oh, also, there's one absolutely awesome thing about SUPER low carb diets -- like, ketogenic low. Close to 0 carbs.

See, ok, when I first started doing low-carb diets, I noticed that I didn't stay sore for as long, after workouts.
Huh?
So my nerdy ass got on the nets and started doing some research, and, sure enough, it turns out that yr BRAIN can USE LACTIC ACID DIRECTLY AS FUEL.

I shit you not:

https://www.fasebj.org/content/22/10/3443.abstract

https://www.jneurosci.org/content/31/20/7477

I mean... that's pretty fucking awesome, right? The less glucose that's floating around yr system, the more yr brain will pull the lactate (and thus the soreness) out of the rest of yr body, and use it as an energy source.

Even more true if yr combining a low-carb diet with intermittent fasting, in which case yr brain will have to pull more lactate when there's less fat (for ketones) and/or protein (for gluconeogenesis) available.

I mean... this is one of the reasons why I like the #gymlife so much, because so much of it violates ALL common-sense expectations. Like, the fact that I recover from workouts fastest when I'm eating close to 0 carbs and fasting for as long as 30 hours at a time.
Who knew?
LOL

Who knew?

[redeyemindtricks]

Tx for mh.

[TrainwreckAdvice]

No problem! I've been googling all kinds of new stuff!! Your answer was so informative. Thank you

[redeyemindtricks]

Oh, well, I make most of my living around this kind of stuff.

There's some background knowledge required, there.

Long story short:

* Intense exercise generates lactate (lactic acid) once oxygen runs out. That's where "hitting the wall" comes from.

* On a zero- or low-carb diet, yr body burns fat directly for fuel, through an intermediate called ketone bodies. Hence "ketogenic" diets. This is infinitely sustainable -- some Inuit people have lived 1000's of years in arctic places where there are literally no plants.

* Surplus protein can also be converted to glucose ("gluconeogenesis"). Sounds good, except this normally means muscle protein being cannibalized.
This is more likely to happen if you still have glycogen (stored carb reserve) in yr muscles. That's why you should initiate low-carb stages with those god-awful endless high-rep glycogen depletion workouts.

If you know these basic background facts, the rest should make more sense. Can preserve muscle on as low as 900 cals/day.

[Paris13]

I Admit, @TrainwreckAdvice Although I Always Try and eat Healthy, Exercise as well, I Have never had a problem with my Health, I would Miss "B" for Buns... Honey buns.
I watch How much Sugar I partake in, my Intake because it's Not Goodie for me to Sit there and Gorge on It all day, every day.
However, Over Carbs, I would Miss it the M0st.
Good luck. xx

[Paris13]

Thank you, sweetie for the "Like."xx

[ConsultantIsBack]

I'll do pretty intense carb cycling and low carb diets leading up to a physique show. It's awful on some days lol
Year round, I try to stay away from sugar and have 1 or 2 weekly cheat meals to stay motivated long-term.

[TrainwreckAdvice]

Well, it has a very, very nice result with your body😳😜😍😉

[ConsultantIsBack]

Thank you!!

Yup. To look different than the rest of America, you have to do things different and eat differently 👍

[redeyemindtricks]

Do you do water depletion?

I mean, the rest of contest prep is pretty well established, at this point -- I'd bet $thousands that yours is some form of "4-8 weeks of low-carb, followed by 2-4 days of carb loading".

But, water depletion is the one thing where it still seems to be half of everyone on one side of the fence, and the other half on the other side. Like, not only do people disagree about it, but they have REALLY strong feelings about it.

Do you do it? If so, how far out do you start, and how much do you deplete?

[ConsultantIsBack]

@redeyemindtricks yes i do. I'm so glad at those shows they have water right after you get off stage, we're all dying!

[redeyemindtricks]

Omg. So you dry-carbload? Ok, you are officially hardcore.
I guess girls just don't have to meet the same standard of definition/striation/whatever, so we don't have to bother.

I know two girls who water deplete, but they're in the bb division, and they also use anabolics and they're kinda scary-looking in stage shape. But, hey, they're both married to pretty hot guys, so they're doing something right.

I mean, I'm totally curious about whether yr actually able to take a normal shit after yr binge meal, but, you don't have to answer that if you don't want to. LOL

[ConsultantIsBack]

@redeyemindtricks ya you're right. some guys even cramp up on stage LOL hardcore right? And everyone takes some diuretics. I'll eat countless rice cakes leading up to a show to get quality carbs in that are dry af too.

[redeyemindtricks]

Aaahhh you kill me.

The rice cakes in my store all have too much sodium. For me it's cereal, Trader Joe's cats cookies, plain pasta, plain ground turkey breast, etc. for the last few days.

My normal diet could be described pretty accurately as "Hey Red, you want some food with that salt?", so, sodium manipulation is very effective for me. But it is not fun, and, I'll black out (orthostatic hypotension) if I get up too fast.

Diuretics like, furosemide/lasix type shit? AKA the angel of death? Or weaker stuff?
Srsly, I think lasix has killed more people in this sport than everything else combined. O_O

[ConsultantIsBack]

@redeyemindtricks get low sodium or non salted rice cakes then.. Problem solved

[redeyemindtricks]

Yeah, I looked once or twice, and, no such animal. Been too lazy to look again, I guess. LOL

I dunno how the hell you can eat that shit without water. I'd probably get it halfway down and then choke to death on it.
I mean, I have a hard enough time eating normal food with normal bites. #notablemannerscrew

[ConsultantIsBack]

thanks mho :)

[sovetskii13]

Damn. I eat a big amount of oatmeal and cereal which is full of carbs. I don't think I would make it very long. I guess I can give up sugar but I need to gain weight. I'm almost underweight. Ugh. What to do, what to do?

[TrainwreckAdvice]

I have to eat some carbs to stay alive and functioning lol. It's funny how often I save my carb intake for the end of the day to eat a bowl of crunchy raisin bran! I love that stuff!

[BertMacklinFBI]

you know what they say

a bowl of rice is a bowl of sugar lol

so probably carbs

[Anonymous]

Yes. Every cell in your body runs on glucose. The blood sugar that goes to your brain comes from carbs. You need carbs and sugar, otherwise you will feel tired and cranky.
I'd miss it so much if I cut it all out. I'd be so mean and dependent on caffeine.

[Sweepthelegjonny]

carbs are way more difficult to cut out...

Every six months I cut down on body fat. I go about 3 to 4 weeks without carbs... it fucking sucks!!

[Anonymous]

Carbohydrates ARE sugars. Well, they can be broken down into simpler sugars.

Your body absorbs sugars, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals.

[amethystgymnastxox]

As a gymnast I need tonnes of carbs. I mean I have pasta for breakfast most days! Carbohydrates are also harder to avoid. I wouldn't really miss things like chocolate, sweets, popcorn etc.. but I defiantly would miss cheese on toast! x

[pr3ttybr0wn]

I could do without sugar. Well not fruit but artificial sugar

[Balcazaurus]

French fries, and bagels, and pizza, and pasta!

These are some of my favorite things.

[9mfeo]

Carbs. I don't particularly like sweets but I love pasta.

[Cmasterson]

Most likely carbs, I don't have much of a sweet tooth and can live off natural sugars in fruits.

[justbanANNAz]

sugar. I've already cut out most carbs and i feel so great.

[Yellow_]

I am on a "sugar diet."

I am avoiding certain sugars.

Only take naturals.

[I_am_repulsive]

I'm not starting my diet until Feb, but I'd miss the sugar the most yeah

[TrainwreckAdvice]

Good luck with that. It's rough but so beneficial I refuse to quit!

[Anonymous]

I guess carbs. I don't eat a lo of sweets, except fruit.

[Maxemeister]

I would miss them both and I would NEVER cut them out cuz that's ridiculous!

[Clarisa_]

I'm missing both right now! I got to be strong :/

[TrainwreckAdvice]

We've got this chika!!! Mind over matter and all that crap lol

[Clarisa_]

I know! one week down! xD

[TrainwreckAdvice]

I'm on my second month almost to my third but my body shape has gotten drastically more toned and lean. I do even feel better it's just hard ya know?

[Clarisa_]

congrats! this is my first week and it's going "good" ahah I'm dying! I know it's hard! I LOVE junk food xD

[TrainwreckAdvice]

We r only HUMAN DAMN IT!!! God I want a cupcake!!

[Clarisa_]

I want pizza or tacos or a hamburger right now xD

[TrainwreckAdvice]

Ohmigod!!! Pizza and wine and a cupcake!!!

[Boomer123]

Carbs... I would die as a vegetarian without carbs

[TrainwreckAdvice]

I tried to be a vegetarian once. Most aweful week of my life. I need my meat!! Cudos to you!!!

[Boomer123]

I haven't eaten meat since I was 8.
It can be awful if you don't know what to make

[Jxpxtxr]

Err, sugar is a carb.. Duh.. 😅

[Woodyyyy]

carbs man, carbs. Idc about sugar

[Shaft50]

I would miss sugar more... sweet, sweet sugar!

[apple24]

Carbs! Don't cut carbs just cut unhealthy carbs.